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Simple English definitions for legal terms
environmental crime
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A quick definition of environmental crime:
Environmental crime is when someone does something that harms the environment and breaks the law. This can include things like polluting the air or water, hurting endangered animals, or breaking rules about food and drugs. There are laws to protect the environment, and if someone breaks them, they can be punished. These laws have been around for a long time, but the most important ones were made in the 1970s. Environmental crime is also called a crime against the environment.
A more thorough explanation:
Environmental crime is a type of crime that involves harming the environment. This can include breaking laws that protect the air, water, and wildlife. For example, if a company dumps toxic waste into a river, they are committing an environmental crime.
Environmental crime laws have been around for a long time. Some of the earliest laws were passed in the late 19th century, such as the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1896 and the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. However, the most significant environmental crime laws were passed in the 1970s, such as the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Other examples of environmental crime include:
- Illegal hunting or fishing of protected species
- Illegal logging or deforestation
- Illegal dumping of hazardous waste
- Illegal trade of endangered species or their parts
These examples illustrate how environmental crime can take many forms and can have serious consequences for the environment and the people who depend on it.